Stacking chairs



Jim. 23, I968 T. M. UYEDA- ETAL v 3,355,233

' STACKING CHAINS Filed June 20, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet X INVENTOR. fim M.UYEDA BY Robefl K.FUMOKA ATTORNEYS Tan. 23,1968 T. M. UYEDA ETAL 3,365, 33-

STACKING CHAINS Filed June 20, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Tim M. UYEDA 7 BY Robert K. FUJIOKA ATTORNEYS Ian.'23, 1968 TM. UYEDA ETAL 3,365,233

STACKING CHAINS Filed June 20, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 "INVENTOR.

Tim M UYEDA l KA BY Robert K FUJ O I AM M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,365,233 STACKING CHAIRS Tim M. Uyeda, South San Gabriel, and Robert K. Fujioka,

Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Samsonite Corporation, Denver, Coio., a corporation of Colorado Filed June 20, 1966, Ser. No. 558,928 4 Claims. (Cl. 297-239) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A chair having a front and rear leg at each side and a bottom rail at each side connected to the corresponding legs but offset laterally outwardly therefrom; sections connecting each leg with the corresponding end of the corresponding bottom rail, one of the bottom rails being longer than the other bottom rail; the sections connecting the longer bottom rail with the corresponding legs being inclined upwardly and toward each other; and the sections connecting the opposite bottom rail with the corresponding legs being inclined upwardly and forwardly at the front and upwardly and rearwardly at the rear. A pair of similar chairs may be interlocked against lateral displacement, with the shorter bottom rail of one side inside the longer bottom rail of another chair. The chair also includes seat and back rest supports formed by an integral tubular member attached to top rails connecting the legs at each side, while the seat has front and side edges overlapping on the outside the forwardly looped seat support, and a pair of holes at the rear, so that the holes may be slid downwardly along the back rest supports, until the seat is in position on the seat support. The back rest is concave at the center and partially encircles the back rest supports at each side, with the lower edge of the back rest extending behind the back rest supports, and holes adjacent thereto which are slid downwardly onto the back rest supports, until the back rest is in position for attachment of the upper ends of the back rest supports to the back rest. The attachments for the seat and back rest may be integral projections on the seat and back rest engaging holes in the respective seat and back rest supports and threaded fasteners extending through the holes and into these projections.

This invention relates to chairs, and more particularly to chairs which may be stacked in overlapping, vertical relation, as well as in side by side relation.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a novel chair; to provide such a chair which is stable and comfortable in use, but a series of which may be placed in stacked, vertical relation, so as to conserve space for storage and the like; to provide such a chair having a novel seat construction and a novel back rest construction; to provide such a chair, a series of which may be placed in side by side relation and attached together; to provide such a chair which is provided with front and rear legs, bottom rails connecting the legs on opposite sides and a special configuration of the bottom rails, so that the bottom rail of one chair will interengage with the bottom rail of an adjacent chair, to attach the chairs together in side by side relation; to provide such a chair which is particularly adapted to utilize seats and back rests molded from synthetic plastic; and to provide such a chair which is economical to manufacture and is efficient and effective in use.

Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, taken from the front but 3,365,233 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 ice to one side, of a stacking chair constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1, with a portion of a similar chair at each side and interlocked therewith shown in phantom outline;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing only the frame of the chair;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, condensed side elevation, on a considerably enlarged scale, of the lower rail and adjoining leg portions at the left side of the chair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary, condensed side elevation of the lower rail and adjoining leg portions at the right side of the chair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the lower rails and adjoining leg portions of FIGS. 5 and 6, when interlocked in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 1, through the seat of the chair;

FIG. 10 is an oblique section, on a reduced scale, taken along line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front elevation of one side of the seat supporting portion of the frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken from the position of line 12-12 of FIG. 11 and showing a portion of the seat to illustrate the manner in which the front edge of the seat is attached to the frame;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the upper end of a back rest supporting post of the frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, vertical section, taken at the position of line 1414 of FIG. 13 and including a portion of the back rest to illustrate the manner in which the upper end of the back rest is attached to the frame;

FIG. 15 is a transverse detail section, taken along line 1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary front elevation, on an en larged scale, showing the lower portion of the back rest at one side of the chair of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken along line 1717 of FIG. 16.

A chair constructed in accordance with this invention may, as in FIGS. 1-4, include a seat S and a back rest B mounted on a frame F, shown separately in FIG. 3. The preferred construction of the seat S and back rest B will be described below, although it will be noted that these parts are conveniently molded from a synthetic plastic, such as polypropylene, and are mounted in a novel manner on a combined seat and back rest support, as will hereinafter appear. The frame F includes downwardly and forwardly inclined front legs 10 and 11 and downwardly and rearwardly inclined rear legs 12 and 13, at the left and right sides, respectively, such sides being considered the sides which are the left and right sides to a person sitting in the chair. The upper ends of the legs 10 and 12 on the left side are connected by an upper rail 14 and the upper ends of the legs on the right side are similarly connected by an upper rail 15. The lower ends of the legs, on the left side, are also connected to a bottom rail 16 and the lower ends of the legs on the right side, are similarly connected to a bottom rail 17. Each of the legs, bottom rail and top rail at each side may be formed from rod stock bent to shape, and the abutting ends attached together, as by welding, at any desired position.

In accordance with this invention, the lower ends of the legs and the bottom rails differ on opposite sides of the chair, so that the bottom rail and the lower ends of the legs on one side, such as the right side, may be placed within the bottom rail and lower ends of the legs on the opposite side, such as the left side, of an adjacent chair, as in FIG. 2, in order to interlock the legs and bottom rails, to hold the chairs in side by side relation, when placed in a row. It will be understod, of course, that the reverse relationship to that shown may be employed. For the above purpose, as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, each of the bottom rails 16 and 17 are laterally offset, to the outside, from the legs above, while the bottom rail 16 on the left side of the chair, is slightly shorter, as in FIG. 5, than bottom rail 17, on the right side of the chair, as in FIG. 6. Also, corresponding left side oblique sections 20 and 21, at the front and rear, respectively, are each connected to the leg by an are 22 and to the bottom rail by an arc 23; while corresponding right side sections 24 and 25, also at the front and rear, respectively, are each connected to the leg by an are 26 and to the bottom leg by an are 27. As in FIG. 8, sections 20 and 21 are longer than sections 24 and 25, while, as in FIGS. and 6, sections 26 and 21 are inclined, upwardly away from each other, while sections 24 and 25 are inclined, upwardly toward each other. When viewed from the side, as in FIG. 6, sections 24 and 25 appear in the same plane as legs 11 and 13, but when viewed from the front, as in FIG. 7, or from above, as in FIG. 8, sections 24, 25 and a portion of arcs 26 appear oppositely inclined from sections and 21, bottom rails 16 and 17 being offset outwardly from the legs above, as indicated, so that the sections 20 and 21 will fit within the sections 24 and to place the left rail 16 inside the right rail 17, as in FIGS. 7 and 8. Normally, the bottom rails 16 and 17 would rest on the floor, although a pair of pads 28, formed of resilient plastic and adapted to be merely snapped onto the respective bottom rail, may be placed on each bottom rail, so as to prevent marring or scratching of the floor.

It will be noted that, in order to attach a pair of chairs together in side by side relation, it is necessary only to tip the right side of one chair slightly, in order to elevate the right bottom rail and slip it inside th: left bottom rail of the adjacent chair. Similarly, the chairs may be removed from the lateral stacking relation illustrated in FIG. 2, merely by tipping the chair shown at the right in FIG. 2 upwardly slightly and removing the bottom rail from within the adjacent chair. A series of chairs may be stacked together in lateral relationship, as well as unstacked quickly and expeditiously, since the sections 24 and 25 of the right legs will guide the sections 20 and 21 of the left leg of the adjacent chair into position.

It will also be noted that, due to the lateral offset of the lower rails 16 and 17, accompanied by the forward and rear inclinations, respectively, of the front and rear legs, a series of chairs may be stacked vertically on each other, with the rearward inclination of the back accommodating the next chair stacked thereon, and the lateral offset of the bottom rails 16 and 17 clearing the legs of the chair beneath.

The frame F, as in FIG. 3, may further include a front cross rod 30 and a rear cross rod 31, each of which is bowed downwardly in the middle, to conform to the downward bowing of the central portion of seat S, as well as bowed downwardly at each end, as shown, for attachment, as by Welding, to the underside of the corresponding upper side rail 14 or 15. The frame F may further include, in accordance with this invention, a single rod member bent to shape, to provide side bars 32 and 33, and a downwardly offset front bar 34, for supporting the seat S, with front bar 34 having a pair of spaced notches 35 having central holes 36 for attachment of the front edge of seat S, in a manner described below. Side bars 32 and 33, which are supported by cross rods 30 and 31, are secured to the latter in any suitable manner, as by welding. The rear ends of the side bars are integral with posts 37 and 38, which extend upwardly and also rearwardly and inwardly toward each other, to provide a mounting support for the back rest B. Each post'37 and 38 is provided with a notch 39 and a hole 40 for attachment of the upper end of back rest B, also in a mannot described below.

The seat S, as in FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10, is provided with a downwardly bowed, central section with lips or flanges 46 and 47 at opposite sides which rest on the respective side bars 32 and 33 of the seat support. Also, a rounded, depending front flange 43 extends forwardly from the portion of the seat resting on the front bar 34 of the seat support, while a downturned flange 49 extends along the rear edge of the seat, as in FIG. 10. Adjacent its rear, the seat is provided with a pair of spaced holes 50 adapted to engage the tubular seat support at the lower edges of the arcs connecting the respective side bars 32 and 33 with the rear posts 37 and 38. These holes permit the seat to be installed on the seat support, prior to the installation of the back B, by initially merely slipping holes 50 over posts 37 and 38, then moving the seat downwardly, in slightly twisted position, along posts 37 and 38. As soon as the holes 50 reach the lower ends of the posts, the seat may then be pulled forwardly, to the position of FIG. 10 on the seat support, until the seat rests on the side bars 32, 33 and front bar 34.

In further accordance with this invention, as in FIG. 12, the underside of the seat S is provided with a pair of generally trapezoidal, molded projections 51 shaped and positioned to enter notches 35 in the front bar 34, so as to provide a point of attachment at each by a cap screw 52, which may be a self-tapping screw, threaded into a smaller hole molded in the seat projection 51. Thus, the seat may be secured in position on the seat support.

The back B, in accordance with this invention, is formed with a concave portion 55 forming most of the area of the back, flanked at each side by a flange or edge roll 56 or 57 at each side, adapted to partially encircle the respective posts 37 and 38 and connected with a similarly curved flange 58 at the top, for reinforcement purposes. Between the posts, the lower edge of the seat is provided with a rearwardly inclined wing 59 which provides greater comfort for the user, while the lateral edges 60 and 61 of the wing extend behind the respective posts 3'? and 38, as in FIGS. 1, 4, 16 and 17. Thus, at each side of its lower end, the back B completely encircles each of the posts 37 and 38 at a hole 62. The holes 62 permit the back B to be slid onto the posts 37 and 38, in a twisted position at the start, and then straightened up, as the holes 62 reach their final position, at which time the back B may be snapped back, so that the side flanges 56 and 57 will partially encircle the posts. The back B, adjacent its upper end and at each side, is provided with a rearwardly extending projection 63, as in FIGS. 16- and 17, which is generally trapezoidal so as to be received in the notch 39 of the corresponding post, for attachment of the upper end of the back to each post by a cap screw 64, similarly conveniently self-tapping and threaded into a smaller hole molded in the projection 63.

As will be evident, both the seat S and back B are readily installed on the chair, the seat and back being particularly adapted to be produced in quantities, through molding of synthetic plastic, such as polypropylene. Also, the integral seat and back support is readily formed and provides a unitary support for the seat and back. It will be evident, of course, that other ways of attaching the front edge of the seat to the front bar 34 of the seat support or the upper end of the back to the upper ends of the posts 37 and 38 may be utilized. The holes in the seat and back, by which these molded parts are attached at their rear end and lower end, respectively, to the unitary seat and back support, not only facilitate installation of the seat and back on the unitary support,

but also hold the rear edge of the seat and the lower edge of the back securely.

As will be evident, the seat and back support, with the molded seat and back, may be mounted upon other types of legs, as through cross rods similar to cross rods 30 and 31. Such legs may be similar to the legs of the chair of US. Patent No. 3,041,110, for vertical stacking, while for lateral stacking, chair tiering attachments of the type of the application of Robert K. Fujioka et al., Ser. No. 461,848, filed June 6, 196-5, may be utilized.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the objects of this invention have been accomplished to a marked degree. Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described, it Will be understood that other embodiments may exist and that various changes may be made, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair including a seat and means for supporting said seat, including a front and rear leg at each side and a bottom rail at each side, the improvement comprising:

a first pair of sections inclined upwardly and laterally but toward each other and connecting said front and rear legs on one side with a first bottom rail, so that the first bottom rail is offset laterally outwardly with respect to said legs on said one side; and

a pair of oblique second sections, inclined upwardly and forwardly at the front and upwardly and rearwardly at the rear, connecting said front and rear legs on the opposite side with the opposite, second said bottom rail, said first bottom rail being longer than said second bottom rail and said first sections permitting the said second bottom rail and said second sections of a second, similar chair to fit within and interlock against lateral displacement with said second bottom rail of said second chair inside said first bottom rail of said first chair.

2. A chair including a seat and a support for said seat comprising:

a forwardly and downwardly inclined front leg at each side;

a rearwardly and downwardly inclined rear leg at each side;

a top rail at each side connecting the respective front and rear legs on that side;

a first and second bottom rail at opposite sides and each spaced laterally outwardly from the downwardly inclined front and rear legs on that side, said first bottom rail being longer than said second bottom rail;

a first pair of downwardly and laterally oblique sections connecting said front and rear legs on the corresponding side with said first bottom rail;

a second pair of downwardly and laterally oblique sections connecting said front and rear legs on the opposite side with said second bottom rail;

whereby a similar second chair may be interlocked with said first chair against lateral displacement with said second bottom rail of said second chair inside said first bottom rail of said first chair; and

whereby said second chair may be stacked on top of said first chair with said laterally offset bottom rails of said second chair clearing the corresponding top rails of said first chair.

3. A chair including a seat and a support for said seat comprising:

a front leg at each side;

a rear leg at each side;

a first and second bottom rail at opposite sides, said first bottom rail being longer than said second bottom rail;

a first pair of oblique sections connecting said first bottom rail with the corresponding front and rear legs on that side;

a second pair of oblique sections connecting said second bottom rail with the corresponding front and rear legs on that side;

at least one of said pairs of oblique sections being inclined both downwardly and laterally so that the corresponding bottom rail is oifset laterally outwardly from the legs on that side;

whereby a second, similar chair may be interlocked against lateral displacement with said second bottom rail of said second chair inside said longer, first bottom rail of said first chair.

4. A chair as defined in claim 3, wherein:

both said pairs of oblique sections are inclined both downwardly and laterally so that each bottom rail is offset laterally from the legs on the same side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,512,326 10/1924 Wynn 297444 1,932,794 10/1933 McArthur 297452 2,276,308 3/1942 Hugh 29744O 2,572,482 10/ 1951 Hoven et a1. 2,717,634 9/ 1955 Lisi 297-443 2,851,090 9/ 1958 Hamilton 297452 3,054,643- 9/ 1962 Militano. 3,111,344 11/1963 Hoven et a1. 297-239 3,159,425 12/1964 Engstrom 297239 3,159,428 12/ 1964 Schier 297- 39 FOREIGN PATENTS 862,789 3/ 1961 Great Britain. 974,861 11/ 1964 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner. 

